Haris Andrea szerk.: Koldulórendi építészet a középkori Magyarországon Tanulmányok (Művészettörténet - műemlékvédelem 7. Országos Műemlékvédelmi Hivatal,)

Mezősiné Kozák Éva: A vértesszentkereszti apátság a dominikánusok idején

During the first half of the 16th century life in the monastery still went on as usual, as revealed from both the written sources and the uncovered evidence. Although extensive building projects were not carried out, smaller reconstructions were administered: the cloister was given an arcade; new entrances were built and old ones were walled up; the floor levels were changed and new brick floors were laid; new fireplaces were installed in the chapter-house and in the refectory. The outside appearance of the building was left unchanged, however. The Renaissance details show similarities with the construction work carried out during the 1510 and 1520s in the central parts of Transdanubia. The new Renaissance windows and doors were inserted in between the existing Gothic details, similarly to the case in the Monastery of Vértes. Although the Dominicans moved into the Monastery of Vértes, stayed there and rebuilt the place, the Benedictine Order did not relinquish their claim to it; they continued to regard it as a Benedictine Monastery, with the Dominicans being the intruders. This is confirmed by the last piece of information concerning the monastery from the time when it was still in use. The Abbot of Pannonhalma, Mihály protested against the Dominicans' attempt to appropriate the mill of the Monastery of Vérteskeresztúr on the River Körös at Tata (1538). In 1543 both Tata and Székesfehérvár were captured by the Turks and the monks most probably fled from the monastery on hearing news about the approaching enemy. Although earlier the Pope had abolished the title of abbot, this title was subsequently conferred on people, which is an indication of the monastery's Dominican character coming to an end. Illustrations 1. The monastery prior to the excavation, with the courtyard wall of the surviving eastern cloister 2. The eastern wing of the monastery after the excavation 3. The entrance to the vestry from the eastern wing of the cloister, after the excavation 4. Jambs and lintel of the door to the vestry 5. The Gothic cross-window on the eastern side of the chapter-house 6. The Renaissance door to the parlour, after restoration 7. The northern wing of the monastery in the course of the excavation 8. A recarved 15th century Gothic pillar 9. The reverse side of the stone shown in picture 8. refashioned in Renaissance style 10. Window for serving the dishes in the eastern wall of the refectory 1 1. The early 16th century store of the refectory after excavation 12. The Gothic entrance to the kitchen from the cloister 13. Eastern part of the kitchen with a pillar in a secondary use 14. The northern wall with remains of an adjoining privy 15. Remains of the western entrance of the monastery 16. The cloister garth in course of excavation 17. A window looking on to the courtyard from the eastern wing of the cloister 18. A part of the monastery after restoration 19. The plan of the Benedictine Monastery 20. The plan of the Monastery at the time of the Dominicans